Sri Lanka hopeful of resolving fishermen issue by year-end


Prime Minister and United National Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at his party office near Colombo on Tuesday.

Photo: T. Ramakrishnan

Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed hope that a solution to the problem faced by fishermen of the Northern Province and those of Tamil Nadu on the other side of the Palk Strait, would be found by the end of this year.

While reiterating his country’s position against mechanised bottom trawling in Sri Lankan waters, Mr. Wickremesinghe clarified that settlement had not been arrived at with India and fishermen of India would not be allowed to fish (in Sri Lankan waters) the way they wanted.

At the same time, the problem could not be allowed to drag on and his country could not go to war against India over the issue.

‘Talks on’

Emphasising the need for finding a solution peacefully, the Prime Minister, replying to questions by Anura Dissanayaka of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) on Thursday, said that talks were on with the India on how to end bottom trawling.

While working out the solution, the Northern Province’s fishermen would be taken into confidence and if they opposed, a settlement was not possible.

Pointing out that 130 to 140 Indian boats were under the custody of the Sri Lankan authorities, he said that they would not be returned while the government would be agreeable to ensure the release of arrested Indian fishermen. (Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, in her letter of July 7 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sought the release of 73 fishermen and 101 fishing boats, including 16 fishermen and three fishing boats apprehended on Thursday).

The Prime Minister, quoting the Sri Lankan Navy, said that on an average, 1,000 boats from the Indian side were spotted every month in Sri Lankan waters and soon a law would be in force to increase the amount of penalty for trespassing into the Sri Lankan waters.

Naganathay Ponnambalam, Jaffna District Fishermen’s Federation’s president, told The Hindu that the view of the fishermen was overwhelmingly against any move to allow bottom trawling, although some sections were in favour of it as they, according to him, were indulging in the practice.

All those working in the area of fishing would meet shortly and take a position, he added.